REFORMERS ARISE
Calling Out a People of Dignity to Influence and Action
Dedications
A Song of Victory dedicated to the
One who gave me the Song
To my Treasures Kome, Efena and
Odafe, who allowed me to Sing
To Reformers Young and Old
who are singing this New Song with
Boldness, Courage and Dignity
REFORMERS ARISE
Calling Out a People of Dignity to Influence and Action
First published in 2017 by
Panoma Press Ltd
48 St Vincent Drive, St Albans, Herts, AL1 5SJ UK
www.panomapress.com
Cover design by Michael Inns
Artwork by Karen Gladwell
eISBN 978-1-784522-98-8
The rights of Alero Ayida-Otobo to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright holder except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications for the copyright holders written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publishers.
This book is available online and in all good bookstores.
Copyright 2017 Alero Ayida-Otobo
When one arrives at a destination it is only a fool that thinks he did it all by himself. The book you are holding is a culmination of a 25-year journey. On this journey I have walked with different kinds of people teachers, midwives, mentors and covenant friends.
There is an ancient saying: When the student is ready the teacher will appear. I thank my numerous teachers Dr Tony Rapu, Paul Adefarasin, Arnold Ekpe, Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow. They showed up at pivotal times during this 25-year journey to ensure that I learned what I needed to learn to walk in knowledge, understanding and wisdom. There is one that stands out because she is more than a teacher, she is my friend, sister and mentor Obii Pax Harry. I remember the many nights spent in her home trying to understand the cry in our hearts for more and our desire to see our nation transformed. She carries and lives the message of reformation.
Thank you to my fellow travellers on this journey of reformation my covenant sisters Abby Olufeyimi, Abolaji Osime, Imo Oyewole and Toyin Matthews and my covenant brother Emmanuel Dania. We have travelled together to different nations, fought and cried together, laughed and rejoiced at small but significant wins.
To the midwives that stayed by my bedside during the dark hours making sure there was no still-birth, I say modupe (which means thank you in the Yoruba language). Modupe to Shola Kotun who travelled to Atlanta in November 2015 to spend a month with me to ensure that the new emerged, and to Gori Olusina Daniel who strengthened me with words when I needed them the most. To Fidelis Okei and Omolara Cookey, thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.
To write a book you need space and time. My life until early 2014 was full and very busy. It was quite a noisy life. An unexpected event in April 2014 made it possible to begin a journey of decluttering my life and focusing on what is truly important to love others and to serve. This book is an expression of love. I thank my daughter Efena for giving me time during our healing journey to write this book. I remember the mornings when she would ask, Mama, have you done your two hours of writing? and would not allow me to do anything else until I fulfilled my obligation. I thank my daughter Kome for being my first editor. She did great and her comments were always insightful and thought provoking. My son Odafe, thank you for the many wonderful meals you cooked, giving me time to think and edit. The last three years with the three of you have brought the clarity I need for the next season of my life. I first had to walk the journey of transformation alongside you to qualify to walk alongside others.
You also need a good measure of love and care. Thank you to my parents and siblings who have demonstrated the immeasurable value of a good family. Their love and support cannot be quantified. Thank you to my sister Gubby and my three brothers, the boys, Omatseyin, Abidemi and Maje Ayida. The crown goes to our amazing parents, Remi and Allison Ayida, who made us feel so loved and so adored. There was nothing they wouldnt do for us. They instilled in us good values and a love for travel. I miss my Mum.
Thank you to my volunteer readers, those who endured the reading of the initial drafts of this book. Thank you for your wise and instructive comments and counsel. Thank you to the Young Reformers who took time to participate in the survey that confirmed that the time had come for a book like this. I am amazed at what some of you have accomplished since we walked together during the Young Reformers Programme. I count it an honour to serve you.
Finally to you, my reader, thank you for allowing me to show up in your life. Without you this book would not exist. So I honour and salute you for paying the price and nurturing the desire to be a reformer. You are destined to become a history maker.
I have gotten to know and appreciate the sharpness of who Alero Ayida-Otobo is as we have interacted over the last couple of years. Because of that it was an honour to be asked to write a foreword for her new book Reformers Arise. I thought to myself, well this ought to be good. Everything about Alero tells you it is going to be something well thought out, meaningful and full of substantive hope. However, nothing prepared me for the amazement I would receive upon actually reading the book. I was stunned by the brilliance of her introduction and then it only grew as the book continued. I read most of the book in one sitting of several hours as it was so engaging and on point.
Reformers Arise is a clarion calling up to the whole continent of Africa and Alero speaks out appropriately as a Mama to the nations. Most of the wisdom in this book is needed far beyond Africa and I strongly recommend it for anybody with a heart for reformation of their nation. This book contains the perfect mix of stories, practical steps, and perhaps most importantly, a prophetic calling up of a people into available destiny. I say available destiny because I believe we have squarely entered into an advanced stage of the kingdom age and we have an unprecedented convergence of time and spiritual resources now coming together on our behalf. I belief that it is right now Africas time and day to arise.
Africa does not lack for potential and it is now time for that potential to be made reality. The continent is full of resources and full of passionate people. This is the beginning of a recipe for glorious success. However, the rest of the recipe ingredients must now be added to the destiny mix and the author does so in a beautiful but direct way. Reformers as defined and explained in this book must and I believe WILL now arise all across Africa. It will start with a few uncompromising individuals and then quickly spread like a healing virus across the continent.
